生靈塗炭 shēng líng tú tàn

people are in a terrible situation (idiom)

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. people are in a terrible situation (idiom)

Characters

Character Meaning
生 shēng HSK 1
life; to be born; raw
靈 líng
effective; efficacious; spirit
塗 tú
to apply (paint etc); to smear; to daub
炭 tàn HSK 5
coal; wood charcoal